Tri-City Americans hire Parneta as Prospect Development Coach/Head Scout and Beattie as Associate Coach
KENNEWICK, WA – Tri-City Americans’ Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the club has selected Barclay Parneta to replace recently retired former Dir. of Player Personnel/Asst. General Manger Terry Bangen for the upcoming 2010-11 season.
In a newly realigned hockey operations department, Parneta will become the team’s new Prospect Development Coach and Head Scout. This position will report directly to the General Manager with guidance and support from Bangen, the Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations.
Over the past 21 years, Parneta has been involved in scouting hockey from the Western Hockey League to the National Hockey League. Parneta first entered the scouting profession in 1989-90 when he scouted for the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. After one season with the Tigers, Parneta spent the next 10 as the British Columbia scouting director for the Americans under Bob Brown and Scott Bonner. In 2000, he opted to join the then-expansion franchise, Vancouver Giants. Parneta made the jump to the NHL in 2003 when he was named an amateur scout for the St. Louis Blues. Then, in 2008, Parneta took a similar position within the Phoenix Coyotes organization where he has spent the past two seasons.
“Barclay brings a wealth of experience having worked both at the WHL and NHL levels,” said Tory. “He is enthusiastic, approachable, friendly, compassionate and hard working…I look forward to working with him in this new role with our hockey club.”
“I’m just really excited to join a first-place hockey club and I’m just looking to continue the great job that Bob (Tory) and Terry (Bangen) have done over the years, developing this program into one of the best in the league,” Parneta explained. “I’ve spent the last seven years in the NHL and have watched (the Americans) grow and get better and better. If I had a young kid, this is the organization that I’d want them to learn, develop and play for.”
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KENNEWICK, WA – Tri-City Americans’ Governor/General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the club has named Scott Beattie as the team’s new associate coach for the upcoming 2010-11 season.
Beattie, a former teammate of current Americans’ head coach Jim Hiller, played three seasons with Northern Michigan University, winning an NCAA title in 1990-91, before playing overseas for 13 seasons. After graduating from NMU in 1992, Beattie spent two seasons with the Bolzano Foxes of the Italian Series A League. He then spent one year with the Milan Saima before rejoining the Foxes in 1995-96, winning the Italian Series A League playoffs championship. From there, Beattie played one season in Germany (Rosenheim Starbulls, DEL) before spending four seasons with three different teams in Switzerland’s Elite League (Zurich, Davos/Thurgau and Geneva). In 2001, Beattie moved back to Italy and joined the Milano Vipers where he was a part of three straight Italian Series A League championships. He wrapped up his playing career back where he started, spending the 2004-05 season with Bolzano, before retiring and entering the coaching ranks. In all, Beattie played in over 300 international games, scoring 206 goals and 482 points.
To coincide with his stellar playing career, Beattie was twice named a Hobey Baker Award finalist, bestowed upon the NCAA’s best collegiate player, while at Northern Michigan. After collecting 106 goals and 22 points in 122 games, he was inducted in the NMU Hall of Fame in 2003. While playing in Europe, Beattie also played for Team Italy in two Group A World Junior Championships, once in 1996 and again in 2001.
“I’ve known Scott for many years now, dating back to my days with the Kootenay Ice, and I’m excited that he will be joining our staff,” explained Tory. “Not only is he extremely qualified for this position but he brings a passion and enthusiasm for the game that is unparalleled.”
“I’ve known Scott for a long time…he will be a great fit for our team,” Hiller said. “His understanding of the game will not only benefit our players, but me as well.”
Beattie’s first coaching opportunity came with his hometown Kimberley Dynamiters of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, serving three seasons as the Head Coach and General Manager while leading the Dynamiters to a record of 75-62-5-12. Beattie has spent the past two seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice as an assistant coach.
“I’m happy and honored that the ownership group is willing to give me this opportunity,” expressed Beattie. “I’ve been friends with Jim (Hiller) a long time. We’ve had tremendous success as players and, hopefully, we will again as coaches.”
Beattie continued…“I had a chance to watch the team in Calgary during the WHL Finals and I’m thrilled to be joining a team with a veteran line-up that has enjoyed success.”
Beattie will officially begin his position on August 15.
